The Dumaguete City police, headed by Supt. Jovito Atanacio, successfully established yesterday the first police substation in the city at the Barangay Hall of Cadawinonan, a dream come true not only for the police and the city government but for local residents, headed by Barangay Captain Gilieta Josy Binondo, because of the worsening drug situation in the area.

In her welcome address, Binondo stressed that since the establishment of the Cadawinonan housing project, the number one concern of the barangay is on how to curb the drug menace in the area.

In fact, records will show that every now and then raids, searches and buy-bust operations are being conducted inside the housing site, many of them are in jail, but to their surprise the drug problem is still there.

Atanacio has proposed the establishment of at least five police substations under the quadrant security approach primarily aimed at decentralization and reducing the response time of the police in case of emergencies and calls for assistance.

This is part of the long-term plans of Atanacio to bring the police closer to the different barangays, in thanking Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria for his all-out support to the program. Sagarbarria had earlier gave his issued vehicle for use by the police and appropriated more than 2 million for the purchase of two brand new vehicles for the city police.

Sagarbarria said Dumaguete is bracing itself for the transformation of the city police station into a city police office as its counterpart in Bacolod City, thus, more organic policemen are required for deployment under the Negros Island Region.

To date, the city police is so undermanned, with only 104 police personnel or one policeman for every 1,500 residents, the requirement of which should be 175 for a city like Dumaguete.

The first police sub-station 1 commander, Senior Insp. Philipedes Sillero, accepted the challenge issued by Atanacio to have the triple “M” as their guiding principles: Makita, Maramdaman at Mapag-usapan.

Based on the guiding principle, Sillero said his unit will make things happen in his area of jurisdiction, that includes portions of Camanjac, Candau-ay, Talay, northern Junob, Balugo, Cadawinoan, and even portion of Bajumpandan, with respect to human rights and outmost concern for the safety and welfare of the rural communities.

Sillero said he seeks the help and cooperation of peace-loving citizens in the area.

Assigned as mobile crew members are PO2s Jay Jardenico, Rico Larena and Salvador Abao, and PO1 Constancio Duran, and quick response team members are PO2s Vicente Querubin and Harry Dumaguit, and PO1s Bryan Tubaña and Teodorico Tangon.

The substation is also assisted by police auxiliary unit members Hector Enjerto, Federico Macalipay, Alfonso and Fred Ragay, Rolando Pis-an, Ricky Cenas and Johnson Corda, and tanods of Cadawinonan.

Atanacio has also announced that the Negros Island Region has an additional quota for 300 police recruits, and encouraged those interested to become police officers to visit his office.*JG